[Thu. 23 Mar. 2017] Prof. Sangsu Bae/Department of Chemistry, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea

“Genome editing using CRISPR nucleases and its applications”

Genome editing with engineered nucleases such as ZFNs (zinc finger nucleases), TALENs (transcription-activator-like effector nucleases), and CRISPR-Cas9/Cpf1 endonucleases is broadly useful for biomedical research, biotechnology, and medicine. Unlike ZFNs and TALENs whose DNA specificities are determined by DNA-binding proteins, CRISPR nucleases use complementary base pairing to recognize target sites. Now, CRISPR nucleases are widely used due to the ease of use and inexpensive cost; researchers can induce gene editing at different sites by simply altering the guide RNAs. Here I present a web-based CRISPR design tool (www.rgenome.net), including a novel CRISPR design and a genome editing assessment tool. These tools are indispensable for gene mutation in human cells, animals and plants. Furthermore, I would like to introduce versatile applications of CRISPR nucleases such as one-step transformation of microalgae by DNA-free manners and the detailed mechanisms of Cas9-guide RNA complex revealed by single-molecule FRET assay.

Prof. Sangsu Bae

Department of Chemistry, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea